Door check



Julie 22, 1954 B. A. QUINN 2,681,468

DOOR CHECK Filed March 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l C III I ll IIIlIiIWIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIII v glvwwwtom fier'f .3. Quinn B. A. QUINN June 22, 1954 DOOR CHECK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1950 Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR CHECK Bert A, Quinn, St. Paul, Minn.

Application March 1, 1950; Serial No. 147,061

11 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in door checks wherein it is desired to provide a simple and efficient hydraulic check which may be inexpensively produced.

Hydraulic door checks have been manufactured for a considerable period of years. These checks are usually fairly expensive because of the difilculty in sealing the liquid within the body of the device. Such checks often include 2. cylinder enclosing a piston and a means for urging the piston to one end of the cylinder. The piston is connected to a piston rod which is hingedly connected either to the door or its frame while the cylinder is pivotally connected to the other member. Difiiculty is experienced in sealing the joint between the piston rod and the cylinder so that the liquid does not leak from the check.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a door check which includes a hydraulic cylinder and piston and in which the cylinder is hingedly connected to either the door or the frame while the piston rod is hingedly connected to the other element. However, I arrange the cylinder in an inclined position so that the liquid is held in the cylinder by gravity and so that the liquid on the piston rod will drain into the cylinder.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an elongated cylinder which is partially filled with liquid and supported at a sufilcient angle to the horizontal so that the liquid will not drain from the upper end of the cylinder. As a result the piston is operable only in the closed lower end of the cylinder, but the necessity of providin an oil seal surrounding the piston rod is eliminated.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a simple and effective means of controlling the speed of operation of the check. I provide a by-pass opening extendin through the portion of the piston rod supporting the piston. This by-pass terminates in a radially extending passage extending into the piston rod. A sleeve encircles a portion of the piston rod and terminates adjacent the radially extending passage. A means is provided for moving this sleeve longitudinally of the piston rod so that the radial passage may be more or less covered. Thus the bypass may be regulated in size by longitudinal movement of the sleeve.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a sleeve encircling the piston rod from a point adjacent the piston to a point externally of the cylinder. As a result the by-pass passage may be varied in size from a point externally 0f the cylinder.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an end cap through which the piston rod extends and in flaring the piston rod opening through this end cap so that any oil carried out of the cylinder by the piston rod will tend to drain back into the cylinder. The iiared passage thus tends to collect any fluid carried out of the cylinder by the piston rod or its encircling sleeve.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a wiping means encircling the piston rod near the upper end of the cylinder. This wiping means tends to scrape oil from the piston rod as it is drawn from the cylinder.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the specific supports used for hingedly supportin the door check and in the provision of a means for limiting the outward swingin oi the door. This limiting means prevents the piston from being pulled out of the liquid within the cylinder.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a portion of a door in its frame showing the door check connecting the door and frame.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the upper end of the door check showin the arrangement of parts therein.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the door check removed from its supporting brackets.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the lower end of the door check showin the arrangement of parts therein.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the door check, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

The door check A is designed to connect two relatively hingable members such as the door it! and its frame I I. The door is swingable about one vertical edge 12 and the door check is designed to dampen the closing of the door. The door is provided with spring hinges which normally tend to pull the same into closed position or are provided with a door spring such as it for this purpose.

The door check A is hingedly connected at one end to a bracket 54 which is shown mounted to the door [0. The other end of the door check is hingedly connected to a bracket unit is which "an angle to the horizontal.

3 is fastened to the door frame. The door check is hingedly connected to the brackets l4 and it to permit pivotal movement thereof.

As best indicated in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings the bracket 54 includes an anchoring plate It having a right angularly turned bottom flange I7 and a parallel top flange it. The anchoring plate It is fastened to the door surface by means of screws or similar means which may extend through suitable apertures 28 in the plate it. The flange I? is provided with an aperture 2| therethrough to accommodate a portion of one end of the door check as will be later described. The flange 59 is also provided with an aperture 22 to which is anchored a check chain 23. The chain 23 is connected to one end of a spring 24, the other end of which is anchored to an anchoring bracket 25 on the door frame H. The chain 23 limits the outward pivoting of the door it to a point where it may be acted upon by the spring I3. Furthermore, the chain limits the operation of the door check so as to retain the piston of the device within the hydraulic fluid. In actual practice the spring 24 contains two elongated U-shaped wires having outwardly extending extremities. One such U-shaped wire extends through the spring in one direction and the rounded end of the wire is connected to the chain 23, while the outwardly turned extremities thereof engage the end of the spring nearest the bracket 25. The other U-shaped wire has its outwardly turned ends engaging the end of the spring 24 nearest the chain 23 and the rounded end thereof, pivotally connected to the bracket 25. When sufiicient pull is exerted on the chain 23, the spring 24 compresses between the outwardly turned ends of the two U-shaped Wires. Thus, when the door NJ has been opened to a predetermined position, the spring 24 is thereafter compressed, producing a snubbing action which eiiectively absorbs any applied force which is in excess of the amount needed to open the door to its predetermined position.

The bracket i5 is best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and includes a flat plate 26 and a supporting plate 21. The supporting plate 2'! lies flush against the plate 26 at one end thereof and is provided with an oil-set end 29 which is generally parallel to the end 2?. An aperture 30 is provided through the off-set plate end 29 to accommodate a portion of the door check A, as will be later described. Aligned apertures 3! through the portion 2? of the plate and through the plate 26 accommodate anchoring screws by means of which the bracket 55 is held in place.

The door check A is shown in assembled form in Figure 3 of the drawings. In general the device includes an elongated tubular body 32 having the closure cap 33 threadably secured to the lower end thereof and a closing cap 34 threaded to the upper end thereof. The cap 33 is provided with an integral projecting lug 35 having a pivot pin 36 extending upwardly therefrom. The pivot pin 36 is arranged to extend vertically, while the cap 33 and tubular body 32 incline upwardly at Thus the axis of the pin 36 is not at right angles to the axis of the tubular member 3!), but is at an acute angle with respect thereto.

The pivot pin 36 is provided with an aperture 31 therein for accommodation of a cotter pin 39 or other suitable holding means. The pin 36 is designed to extend through the aperture 2i in the flange ll of the bracket is and to be held in place by the cotter pin 39. The washer 40 is also preferably provided above the flange H to permit free rotation of the pivot pin 36 relative to the bracket.

A piston rod 4| is provided within the tubular cylinder 32 to extend through the cap 34. The cap 34 is provided with an integral inturned sleeve 42 through which the piston rod extends. The sleeve 42 is preferably tapered slightly with the largest internal diameter occurring at the outer end of the sleeve so as to provide aspace between the piston rod and the sleeve 42. As a result the piston rod structure is supported by the inner end of the sleeve 42 and the upper or outwardly projecting portion of the piston rod is free of contact with the sleeve so that hydraulic fluid may drain back into the cylinder 32. The piston rod 4| is provided with a goose neck 43 at its outer end terminating in a downwardly extending pivot portion 44 designed to extend through the aperture 36. The goose neck is thus confined between the plate 26 and the off-set end 29 of the plate 21, thereby being engaged to rotate freely about the axis or the pivot portion 44, while at the same time the end can not readily become disengaged from the bracket A sleeve 45 encircles the piston rod 4| throughout the major portion of its length. An inclined slot 46 is provided through the sleeve 45 near the upper or outer end thereof. A screw 41 extends through the slot 46 and into the piston rod 4| to hold the sleeve in fixed position relative to the piston rod. However, by loosening the screw 4? slightly, the sleeve 45 may be rotated about its axis. The shape of the slot 46 is such that rotation of the sleeve moves the sleeve longitudinally along the piston rod 4i. In other words, from the center position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, rotation of the sleeve in one direction will tend to move the sleeve toward the hook end of the piston rod, while rotation of the sleeve in the opposite direction will move the same toward the piston bearing end thereof.

A piston unit 49 is supported upon the piston rod 4| for movement in unison therewith. The lower end of the piston rod 4! is threaded as indicated at 59 and a clamping nut 5| is supported upon the piston rod in spaced relation to the lower end thereof. A supporting disc 52 having a peripheral flange 53 extending thereabout forms the support for a cup shaped piston element 54. A washer 55 encircles the piston rod 4| and is arranged to bear against the inside of the cup shaped piston member 54. A locking washer 5t and a clamping nut 5? encircle the piston rod near the extremity of the rod to clamp the piston'in place.

7 An axial passage 59 extends into the piston rod 4! from the lower end thereof and communicates with a radially extending passage end '38. This passage 60 is designed to be more or less closed by the sleeve 45. In the position illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the radially extending passage 6i! is substantially half covered by the lower end of the sleeve 45. Rotation of the sleeve to move the same longitudinally of the piston rod acts to cover a greater portion of this opening or a lesser portion thereof.

The door check illustrated is only partially filled with fluid and the piston operates in this fluid throughout its length of stroke in preferred form. The piston may if desired be entirely withdrawn from the fluid, but a noise will usually result and the operation is less smooth. Thus. I

5 prefer to fill the cylinder 32 with fluid only to an extent where the fluid will not drain through the sleeve 42 of the cap 34.

As the door is opened the piston rod 41 is withdrawn partially from the cylinder 32, moving the piston unit '39 upwardly in the cylinder 32. A partial vacuum is created within the closed lower end of the .cylinder and tends to pull fluid into the lower end of the cylinder. This action is assisted by the fact that the fluid may be drawn past the walls of the cup shaped piston element 54 with comparative ease as the piston is moving in a direction to partially withdraw the same from the cylinder. As the door is released it is drawn inwardly toward closed position by the spring H5. The piston 54 moves toward the closed lower end of the cylinder and fluid is forced through the by-pass passage 59 and through the radially extending end 50 thereof, the time required for the closing of the door depending upon creased by opening this passage to a greater extent. Thus the time required for the door to close may be regulated by the position of the sleeve 45.

A spring 6! is provided within the cylinder 32 between the cap 34 and the piston unit 49 tending to move the piston toward the closed end of the cylinder. This spring thus assists the action of the door spring in closing the door. The spring is preferably of greater diameter at its center point than at its ends so that the convolutions thereof have a tendency to nest between one another and the spring may be of sufficiently small diameter to snugly encircle the cap sleeve 42 and the clamping nut 5| at opposite ends of the spring and yet may substantially contact the inner surface of the cylinder intermediate the ends of the spring.

A means is provided for wiping excess oil from the surface of the sleeve 45 as this sleeve is pulled from the cylinder in unison with the piston rod 4! This wiping means comprises a short length of helical spring 62 having a pair of arms 63 and B4 bent rearwardly from opposite ends thereof. The arms 63 and 54 are provided with hook shaped ends 65 and 56 which engage about convolutions of the spring 6|. Thus the wiping means is held adjacent the sleeve 42 as the sleeve 45 reciprocates within the same and the coils of the spring element 62 rub against the exterior surface of the sleeve 45 and tend to scrape excess oil therefrom.

The manner of operation of my device is believed obvious from an examination of the drawings. The body of the door check is supported at an angle to the horizontal so that the oil will not run from the body and so that the seal usually provided between the piston rod and the end of the cylinder may be entirely eliminated. As a result much of the difficulty previously experienced with checks of this type may be avoided and the cost of production may be greatly decreased.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my door check, and While I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A door check support for use with a cylinder door check having a piston. rod extending therefrom, said piston rod having a hook shaped end thereupon, the support including a plate designed to have one face thereof confront a door frame, and a second plate having an off-set end through which said hook shaped end of said piston rod extends, said hook shaped .end being supported between said plates with the hook endthereof extending through the oflf set end .of the second mentioned plate, said first named plate holding said hook end from disengagement with said second plate.

2. A door check including a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod con.- nected to said piston for movement therewith and extending from one end .of said cylinder, said piston rod having a bypass terminating in an aperture, a sleeve encircling the piston rod from a point adjacent to said aperture to a point externally of the cylinder, means for supporting said sleeve for longitudinal movement on said piston rod for at least partially closing said aperture, and means connecting said piston rod and the other end of said cylinder to a pair of relatively pivotal members, said cylinder being sup ported with its axis at an angle with the horizonal and with said piston rod supported in an inclined position.

3. A door check including a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, 2. piston rod connected to said piston for movement therewith and extending from one end of said cylinder, said piston rod having a by-pass terminating in an aperture and connecting the portions of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, a sleeve encircling said piston rod from a point adjacent to said aperture to a point externally of the cylinder, means for holding said sleeve in adjusted relation relative to said piston rod, means for moving said sleeve longitudinally upon rotation thereof about its axis to at least partially cover said aperture, and means connecting said piston rod and the other end of said cylinder to a pair of relatively pivotal members, said cylinder being supported with its axis at an angle with the horizontal and with said piston rod supported in an inclined position.

4. A door check comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston for movement therewith and extending from one end of said cylinder, said piston rod having a passage connecting with the portions of said cylinder forwardly and rearward- 1y of said piston, and a sleeve encircling said piston rod and extending from said cylinder for regulating fluid flow through said passage.

5. The structure described in claim 4 which the piston rod is connected to one pivotal member and the end of the cylinder opposite said piston rod connection is connected to a second pivotal member, the axes of said pivots being vertical, said cylinder being supported with its axis at an angle with the horizontal and with said piston rod supported in an inclined position.

6. A door check comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston for movement therewith and projecting from one end of said cylinder, said piston rod having a passage connecting with the portions of said cylinder forwardly and rearwardly of said piston, a sleeve encircling said piston rod and extending from said cylinder, and means for retaining said sleeve in an adjusted axial relationship with the entrance to said passage to thereby control the amount of fluid flow through said passage.

7. The structure described in claim 6 in which said last named means includes an inclined slot in said sleeve at the end thereof extending from the cylinder and a screw carried by said piston rod extending through said slot.

8. A door check comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, piston actuating means movable with said piston, a coil spring encircling said means biasing said piston in one direction, a convolute wiping element interposed between said means and said coil spring, and means connecting the ends of said wiping element with said coil spring.

9. A door check comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod con- 8 spring in wiping relation to said piston rod positioned between said piston rod and said first coil spring and connected with said first spring, said second spring being positioned adjacent the end of the cylinder through which the piston rod extends.

nected to said piston for movement therewith and wiping element interposed between said piston rod and said coil spring, said wiping element having arin means extending therefrom and anchored to said coil spring.

10. A door check comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston for movement therewith and extending from one end of said cylinder, means connecting said piston rod and the other end of said cylinder to a pair of relatively pivotal members, said cylinder being supported with its axis at an angle with the horizontal and with said piston rod supported in an inclined position, a coil spring encircling said piston rod for biasing said piston in one direction, and a second coil 11. A door check support for use with a cylinder door check having a piston rod extending therefrom, said piston rod having a hook shaped end thereupon, the support including a plate designed to be secured to a door frame, and a second plate having one end portion secured to said first plate, and its other end portion off-set into a plane substantially parallel to said first plate, the off-set portion being provided with an aperture for the reception of the hook shaped end of said piston rod, said first named plate holding said hook end from disengagement from said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 578,962 Bayer Mar. 16, 1897 866,719 Dizer Sept. 24, 1907 1,387,301 Osborne Aug. 9, 1921 1,481,562 Rowe Jan. 22, 1924 1,916,571 I-Iofimann July 4, 1933 1,939,200 Brady L Dec. 12, 1933 1,962,319 McCormick June 12, 1934 1,963,687 Tappan June 19, 1934 2,227,656 Lindsay Jan. 7, 1941 2,311,790 Tharp Feb. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 207,033 Germany Nov. 12, 1907' 

